Gerard P. McGregor

Sniffing neuropeptides: a transnasal approach to the human brain

Neuropeptides act as neuronal messengers in the brain, influencing many neurobehavioral functions. Their experimental and therapeutic use in humans has been hampered because, when administered systemically, these compounds do not readily pass the blood–brain barrier, and they evoke potent hormone-like side effects when circulating in the blood. We administered three peptides, melanocortin(4–10) (MSH/ACTH(4–10)), vasopressin and insulin, intranasally and found that they achieved direct access to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within 30 minutes, bypassing the bloodstream.

Induction of tachykinin gene and peptide expression in guinea pig nodose primary afferent neurons by allergic airway inflammation.

Substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have potent proinflammatory effects in the airways. They are released from sensory nerve endings originating in jugular and dorsal root ganglia. However, the major sensory supply to the airways originates from the nodose ganglion. In this study, we evaluated changes in neuropeptide biosynthesis in the sensory airway innervation of ovalbumin-sensitized and -challenged guinea pigs at the mRNA and peptide level. In the airways, a three- to fourfold increase of SP, NKA, and CGRP, was seen 24 h following allergen challenge. Whereas no evidence of local tachykinin biosynthesis was found 12 h after challenge, increased levels of preprotachykinin (PPT)-A mRNA (encoding SP and NKA) were found in nodose ganglia. Quantitative in situ hybridization indicated that this increase could be accounted for by de novo induction of PPT-A mRNA in nodose ganglion neurons. Quantitative immunohistochemistry showed that 24 h after challenge, the number of tachykinin-immunoreactive nodose ganglion neurons had increased by 25%. Their projection to the airways was shown. Changes in other sensory ganglia innervating the airways were not evident. These findings suggest that an induction of sensory neuropeptides in nodose ganglion neurons is crucially involved in the increase of airway hyperreactivity in the late response to allergen challenge.

Characterisation of the processing by human neutral endopeptidase 24.11 of GLP-1(7-36) amide and comparison of the substrate specificity of the enzyme for other glucagon-like peptides.

The post-secretory processing of the potent insulinotropic peptide hormone, GLP-1(7-36)amide, probably involves one or more of a small group of membrane-bound ectopeptidases. Reported here, is the characterisation of the endoproteolysis of human GLP-1(7-36)amide by the recombinant human form of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) 24.11, which is one of the best characterised and widely-distributed of ectopeptidases and is involved in the processing of other peptide hormones. The products of the limited endoproteolysis were characterised by mass and primary structure following fractionation using high performance liquid chromatography. The rate of this endoproteolysis by NEP 24.11 was estimated and compared to that of GLP-1(7-36)amide-related peptides. GLP-1(7-36)amide appears to be good substrate for NEP 24.11 with most, but not all potential target bonds being cleaved. Also, the structurally-related peptides, secretin and glucagon appear to be good substrates whereas GIP and exendin-4 are very poor substrates. That the GLP-1(7-36)amide super-agonist, exendin-4 is a poor substrate for NEP 24.11 is significant for the possible use of this peptide as a prototype for the development of clinically-useful peptide agonists. Further studies should reveal whether NEP 24.11 is important for the metabolic clearance of GLP-1(7-36)amide and will be highly relevant for the attempts to realise the suggested therapeutic value of GLP-1(7-36)amide.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) contributes to neuronal dysfunction in a model of allergic airway inflammation

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a candidate molecule for mediating functional neuronal changes in allergic bronchial asthma. Recently, enhanced production of BDNF during allergic airway inflammation caused by infiltrating T‐cells and macrophages as well as by resident airway epithelial cells has been described. It was the aim of this study to investigate the effect of enhanced BDNF levels on lung function and airway inflammation in a mouse model of allergic inflammation. Ovalbumin‐sensitised BALB/c mice were challenged in two consecutive allergen challenges. Prior to the challenge, the mice were treated with either anti‐BDNF antibodies or isotype‐matched control antibodies. Airway responsiveness to methacholine, capsaicin and electric field stimulation, as well as airway inflammation and chronic airway obstruction 1 week after the last allergen challenge were assessed. Anti‐BDNF blocked enhanced reactivity in response to capsaicin, but not airway smooth muscle hyper‐reactivity in vivo. Furthermore, persistent airway obstruction, as observed 1 week after the last allergen challenge, was to a large extent prevented by anti‐BDNF treatment. In vitro, BDNF and anti‐BDNF treatment had a profound effect on local neuronal hyper‐reactivity, as shown by electric field stimulation experiments. In contrast, neither BDNF nor anti‐BDNF treatment affected airway inflammation. Our data indicate that development of allergen‐induced neuronal hyper‐reactivity in mice is partially mediated by BDNF.

ENDOPROTEOLYSIS OF GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE (GLP)-1(7-36) AMIDE BY ECTOPEPTIDASES IN RINM5F CELLS

This study concerns whether the pancreatic beta cell expresses cell-surface ectopeptidases that are capable of proteolysis of peptide hormones and neuropeptides that modify glucose-dependent insulin release. These biochemical investigations of the RINm5F cell line found that these cells express ectopeptidases. We have characterized the limited endoproteolysis of GLP-1 (7-36) amide that occurs in the presence of RINm5F plasma membranes. The products and the sensitivity to specific peptidase inhibitors of the proteolysis is characteristic of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) 24.11. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), amylin, glucagon, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and exendin-4 also undergo proteolysis in the presence of RIN cell membranes. NEP 24.11-activity in RIN cell membranes was confirmed using a specific fluorogenic assay, by histochemistry, and by comparison with the recombinant enzyme with respect to the kinetics of proteolysis of GLP-1 (7-36) amide and of a fluorogenic substrate. Specific fluorogenic assays revealed the presence of aminopeptidase N and the absence of aminopeptidase A and of dipeptidylpeptidase IV.

Leptin receptor expression in nodose ganglion cells projecting to the rat gastric fundus

Recent studies suggest that in addition to adipocytes the chief cells of the gastric fundic mucosa are a site of leptin production. In order to assess the possible role of vagal afferent neurons in transmitting leptin signals from the stomach to the brain, leptin receptor (OB-R) expression was investigated in rat nodose ganglion cells and their projection to the stomach determined by retrograde tracing. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction combined with laser-assisted cell picking revealed that large and small diameter neurons express both the long (OB-Rb) and short (OB-Ra) splice variants of the OB-R. OB-R like immunoreactivity was detected in the perikarya of approximately 8% of nodose ganglion neurons. Tracing studies revealed that a significant proportion (15%) of the immunopositive neurons projected to the gastric fundus. These findings suggest that leptin may use a neural route to relay its message from peripheral sites of leptin synthesis such as the gastric fundus to the brain.

Leptin receptor expression and suppressor of cytokine signaling transcript levels in high-fat-fed rats

Several lines of evidence suggest that obese individuals have a higher set point for body weight regulation relative to lean subjects. Since obese rodents and humans have high serum levels of leptin, it has been hypothesized that this may be the result of an insensitivity to this weight reducing hormone. In this experiment we assessed whether feeding of a high-fat diet to rats affects leptin receptor (OB-R) transcript levels or induces up-regulation of the suppressors of leptin/cytokine induced signaling, SOCS-3 and PIAS-3. We found that despite a significant weight gain associated with markedly increased circulating leptin levels neither OB-R gene expression nor SOCS-3 or PIAS-3 mRNA levels were significantly altered in the high-fat fed rats. This was in contrast to control experiments where administration of exogenous leptin induced a several-fold increase in SOCS-3. It is concluded that high-caloric food intake per se is not sufficient to provoke suppression of leptin signaling via these factors in animals without genetic predisposition to obesity.

Identification of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and PACAP type 1 receptor in human skin: expression of PACAP-38 is increased in patients with psoriasis.

Morphological and biochemical evidence is presented for the presence of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) and the high-affinity PACAP-1 receptor subtype in human skin. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed PACAP-immunoreactivity (IR) to be present predominantly in dermal nerve fibers close to the dermal-epidermal border, hair follicles, blood vessels and sweat glands. Radioimmunoassay, chromatographic analysis and Western blotting revealed this PACAP-IR to be PACAP-38 whereas the second molecular form, PACAP-27, is absent. In tissue of psoriasis patients significantly more PACAP-38 protein was detected as compared to normal skin. Using RT-PCR, the expression of a high-affinity PACAP-1 receptor in human skin was observed. These results indicate a possible role for PACAP-38 in inflammatory processes of psoriasis.

Expression and distribution of calcitonin receptor-like receptor in human hairy skin.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and adrenomedullin exert potent effects in skin but their cellular targets are unknown. This study aimed to identify the cellular location of calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) which is pharmacologically identical to CGRP receptor-1, a putative molecular target of CGRP and adrenomedullin. RT-PCR analysis of human hairy skin revealed the presence of CRLR mRNA and immunohistochemical analysis, employing a previously characterized polyclonal antibody raised to CRLR, provided novel evidence of the cellular distribution of CRLR. Extensive and specific CRLR-immunostaining was detected in arteriolar smooth muscle and venular endothelium and is consistent with CGRPs putative role in neurogenic inflammation. Novel targets for CGRP and/or adrenomedullin were identified, including capillary endothelium, hair follicles and sweat glands.

The effects of two FMRFamide related peptides (A-18-F-amide and F-8-F-amide; ‘morphine modulating peptides’) on the endocrine and exocrine rat pancreas

The effects of two recently isolated mammalian FMRFamide related peptides (A-18-F-amide and F-8-F-amide) on the encocrine and exocrine rat pancreas were investigated. A-18-F-amide (10, 100, 1000 pM) inhibited concentration dependently glucose (10 mM)- and arginine (10 mM)-induced insulin secretion from the isolated perfused rat pancreas during the first (controls: 100%; 10 pM: 114%; 100 pM: 63%, p less than 0.05; 1000 pM: 31%, p less than 0.05) and the second secretion phase (controls: 100%; 10 pM: 102%; 100 pM: 78%; 1000 pM: 27%, p less than 0.05). The inhibitory actions of A-18-F-amide on pancreatic D-cell secretion were more pronounced during the first than the second phase (first phase: controls: 100%; 10 pM: 95%; 100 pM: 37%, p less than 0.05; 1000 pM: 39%, p less than 0.05%; second phase: controls: 100%; 10 pM: 113%; 100 pM: 72%; 1000 pM: 59%, p less than 0.05). F-8-F-amide (at 1000 pM) inhibited stimulated insulin (controls: 100%; first phase: 26%, p less than 0.05%; second phase: 20%, p less than 0.05) and somatostatin release (controls: 100%; first phase: 14%, p less than 0.05; second phase: 29%, p less than 0.05). Both peptides were without effect on basal and CCK-8-stimulated amylase release from isolated incubated rat pancreatic acini.